Vacuum film holder



Oct 23, 1951 s. LOVEGROVE VACUUM FILM HOLDER Filed Aug 18, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet l EIHHWIHMl lfi UHbWHP QHUHU H P h Hb wflu Arromey Oct. 23, 1951 VACUUM FILM HOLDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 18 1948 H00 000 0 0 ooooo 000000 0 0 00 0 o e M 0 0 00 4 000 o 0 0 4 L 0 0000 O OOOCO/ o o 4 o o o o o 0 o 0 00 o 00 o M 0 2 O0 0 O o 4 o o o o oo 0 con 0 O o 00 o o o o o o o o 000 C 00 0o 0 o 00 00 O 00 a o O 000 0 0O 2 0 00000 O o 2 o q O00 000 p. O A D W. W a Q U "T J 2 2 Us 2 2 2 2 2 2 Oct. 23, 1951 l. s. LOVEGROVE VACUUM FILM HOLDER 3 SheetsSheet 3 Filed Aug. 18, 1948 Irv/my 8. Lovey/0V6 "772ml a Afro/"hex Patented Oct. 23, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in vacuum film holders and comprises such a holder adapted to firmly retain all portions of any size film against the surface of the front plate thereof. It is designed primarily for use in cameras employed in the graphic arts for holding sensitized photographic materials, films, glass plates, paper or thin metal sheets in the perfectly fiat focal plane of the camera lens.

When used in conjunction with the conventional half-tone screens, the material is held parallel at any screen separation desired. It is also unusually well suited for use with the new magenta contact half-tone screens, as the screen is held in perfect contact with the sensitized m-a-' terial. It also can hold copy to be photographed in place of the conventional copy board, to act as a holder replacing the usual easel in making photographic enlargements, and it is particularly adapted for these purposes, as no covered glass, tacks or binding tape are required.

A further object of my invention is to provide a master controlled vacuum holder which is very light in construction. The front and back plates are preferably made of light weight metal such as aluminum or magnesium alloy, the intermediate plate preferably comprising a gasket made of pressboard or sheet plastic cemented between the front and back plates and the dial may comprise machined red plastic in which the calibrations of the dial are clearly engraved and filled with a suitable black enamel. Under the usual operating conditions, a red or orange colored light illuminates the photographic dark room and under this color light such a dial is clearly visible to the operator, appearing as a while dial with black calibrations which may be .easily read and adjusted in the dark room to the desired setting.

A further object of my invention is to provide a master controlled vacuum film holder which, due to its master control and the elimination of a multiplicity of features formerly thought necessary in the art, is of very light weight, compact and can be mounted on various types of cameras by various means Without imposing undue strain on the equipment.

A further object of my invention is to pro films of difierent size thereon against the front surface of the front plate, and that as the size of the film increases, I apply vacuum cumulatively to all of the channels covered by the film. Due to the fact that the front plate applies suction to the film along even lines, it is obvious that it will be held evenly throughout the area thereof. So far as I am aware, I am the first to provide a master control which applies suction along a plurality of different sized endless rectangular nested channels cumulatively.

A further feature of my invention relates to the specific construction of master control, preferably a dial control I preferably employ for applying suction to said channels cumulatively.

A further feature of my invention relates to the improved brace I preferably employ which positively maintains all portions of the holder flat in use.

These and such other objects of my invention. as may hereinafter appear will be best understood. from a description of an embodiment thereof, such as is shown in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of i my improved vacuum film holder in use in the. act of holding a film against the front surface. thereof, showing a portion of the film only in'. elevation and with major portions of the front.-

plate and gasket successively removed.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 22 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a rear exploded diagrammatic perspective View of the front plate, gasket, back plate and turning dial.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of my improved holder, illustrating the brace I preferably employ therefor.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View thereof taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a rear view of the improved turning dial I preferably employ.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the turning dial shown in Fig. 6.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference generally indicate like parts throughout, [0 generally indicates a single master control vacuum film holder constructed in accordance with my invention. Broadly, said film holder [0 comprises a front plate I2, having a series of similar different sized endless rectangular nested channels l4, comprising respective channels I la, Mb, I40, Md, Me and I41 in the rear surface I6 thereof, said endless channels being of respectively less size than standard film sizes, if desired. I provide preferably evenly 3 spaced perforations 18 in each respective channel extending to the front surface of said front plate to provide equal strong lines of suction along said aligned perforations sucking against the film I9 in the form of said similar nested channels respectively.

I also provide an intermediate plate 20 of substantially equal area underlying the said front plate l2, having spaced slot means 22 comprising respective slots 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, 22c and 22 each respective slot underlying portion of each respective channel 41146 in the front plate ,2.

I also provide a back plate 23 of substantially equal area underlying said intermediateplatefi fl, having aligned holes 25 preferablyof respectively increasing size therethrough, an entry channel 2% in the front surface thereof extending from an end hole 25' and receiving through another hole 28 in the back plate, said hole being preferably provided with a hose connection 36 thereto and channels 32, comprising respective channels 32a,

32b, 32c, 32d, 32c and 32;, preferably of increasing length and width, on the front surface thereof,

leading from said respective hole 24a, 2%, 24c, 24d, 2&6 and 2% to said respective intermediate plate slots 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d,22e and 22f to discharge respectively into respective outer endless channels l ia-i if in said front plate i2.

I also provide continuous layers of adhesive 34 and 3.6 respectively joining said intermediate plate 20 to said front plate 52 and to. said back plate. 23 and sealing the respective channels in'said plates from each other'and the outer edge.

I also; provide means movably mounted on the rear-surface of said back plate, such as the dial '38 shown, and having the slot 3c in the front surface thereof 'of a length corresponding to the distance from the leading hole 24-0; to the end hole 24 of said aligned holes in said back plateymovable to. successively uncover said holes to'apply suction cumulatively to said'respective channels on'movement thereof.

In the preferred embodiment shown, said movable means is preferably constructedas follows: The front plate i2 is preferably constructed of a light metal one-eighth inch plate, preferably of aluminum or magnesium alloy, because of their light weight, and the back plate 23 is preferably constructed of similar material of the samethickness, although it is obvious that light steel, plastic plate may be constructed of metal, if so desired.

Any suitable type of adhesive such as glue, rubber cement, etc., to join said plates respectively to each other may be employed, but I have obtained the best results by the use of shellac.

I preferably make the aligned holes'24 of the back plate 23 of slightly increasing respective size, as shown. In the embodiment shown, as said movable means 38, I preferably employ the rtatable dial 33 shown. For this purpose; the slots 22a-22f in the intermediate gasket plate'Zil are preferably both circumferentially and radially spaced to project outwardly from the respective holes 2iia-2 if in the backplate 23 arranged int-he embodiment shown substantially in asemi-circue lar arc- 12 adjacent the centertherecf respectively inalignment with the gasket slotsiZa-Zfif. In the embodiment'shown, to save a separate channel'32a, the channel zdle ading fromtheentry hole 28-totheleading -holeii i orl 'iais made to function --as -the channel --32a f orthe-=initial-s10t shown on the opposite side from the slot 3f).

equipment.

4 22a by locating the slot 22a in the path of said channel 25.

The channels Sid-32f are arranged in clockwise formation to discharge respectively at the respective slots 22a-22 and as the respective chamiels Ia-|4f are of respectively increasing size successively from the center to the outer edge of said device, it is obvious that they are of more area and so for this reason, as stated, the respective holes Zfia-Zf are preferably of respectively increasing size and the respective channels 3211-32 are of respectively increasing width to provide a greater area for easy flow, as well as of increasin 'length.

In the embodiment shown, the dial 38 comprises a circular dial mounted preferably centrally of the rear surface of said back plate by means of a suitable bolt 44 extending through a suitable hole in the dial and into threaded holes in the back plate 23, gasket 29 and front plate 12, so that the dial 38 may. turn on the respective unthreaded rear portion thereof. The dial 28 may have'a turning knob 56 projecting rearwardly therefrom and I provide indicia is preferably comprising numbers corresponding to'the respective endless channels Mia-Hi in said front plate arranged arcuately on a portion thereof, in the embodiment The slot 30 is preferably made of arcuate formation on the front surface of said dial on the opposite side thereof from said indicia of a length corresponding to the arcuate distance d2 of the outer? most. gasket slot 22f'from the leading innermost gasket slot 22a-i and corresponding hole Ztfi-Ztia and channels lfif-Ma to' successively uncover-said holes in synchronism' with their respective indicia t successively applysuction cumulatively to said respective channels'depend ing uponthe size of film employed.

Ima'y, if desired, provide a reinforcing skeleton brace fail, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, comprising square metal tubing 52 underlying said back plate in any suitableskeleton arrangement such as the rectangular skeleton arrangement shown and secured to the holder l t bymachine screws 54 extending through suitable holes therein, through suitable holes in said back plate, intermediate plate and front plateto retainthe parts of the film holder flat in use.

The'dial 38 is preferably machined from red plastic, the calibrations are clearly engraved and preferably filled with' a suitable black enamel. Under usual operating conditions, a red or orange colored light illuminates the photographic dark room. Under this color light, the dial is very clearly visible to the operator, appearing-as awhitedialwith black calibrations and this is more easily read and adjusted in the darkroom to the desired setting. The front surface of the front plate is as flat and assmooth as possible and is preferably finished in black. The remainder of the holder may be finished in any color, but is usually black or gray. As my device is of very light weight and compact, it may be readily mounted on various cameras by various means without imposing undue strain on the Any number of channels It maybe providedinthe front plate inplace of thesix shown. These are preferably cut to a depthnot more than one-half the thickness of the plate. The area enclosed by each channel-is'approxii'nately the size of standardphotographic films and plates,being preferablyofslightly less area. The respective holes F8 are suitably spaced in the channels M,- preferably evenlyand are of a suitable diameter to prevent embossing of the film. Red marks, as indicated by the corners 2| shown, are placed at each corner of each area to aid in the placing of the film l9. All channels 32 in the back plate are cut to a depth of not more than one-half the thickness of the metal. The setting of the dial 38 determines how many channels 14 are to be used, since all areas are used up to and including the largest area selected. The film I9 is held securely against the front plate I2 by vacuum, suction being drawn through the perforations l8, through the channels 14 of the front plate, through the slots 22 in the intermediate plate, through the channels 32 in the back plate, through the holes 24 therein, through the arcuate slot 40 in the dial 38 and through the hole 24' or 24a as shown, through the main channel 26, 32a as shown, through the hole 28 and hose connection 38 to the vacuum pump or other source of suction (not shown). To prevent leakage of vacuum a piece of felt 39 may be cemented to the front side of the dial 38. It is apparent that the use of small machine screws 54 extending through the tubing 52 to the front plate l2 aids the layers of adhesive 34 and 36 to maintain an airtight seal between the plates I2 and 23. It is obvious that any other type of a skeleton brace 58 than that shown may be employed, but that the use of such a brace is highly desirable as the holder must maintain a perfect plane throughout its entire life.

In addition to the indicia 48, a pointer 49 may be mounted on the rear surface of the back plate opposite said indicia.

The operation of my invention is apparent from the above description. The operator selects the standard size film l 9 required, sets the dial valve 38 by rotating it to the desired position indicated by the indicia 48 to allow vacuum in the required number of channels (L-If successively through the outer channel adjacent the film on the front plate over the corresponding area marked by the indicia 48, starts the vacuum pump, exposes the film, turns off the vacuum and removes the film. By the use of a vacuum gauge and a pressure control valve in the hose line, any amount of vacuum can be applied as desired by the operator.

'It is apparent that I have provided a novel type of master control vacuum film holder of a light construction and one which may be quickly operated in use, with the other advantages described above.

It is understood that my invention is not limited to the specific embodiment shown and that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A vacuum holder for sheet material comprising a front plate and a back plate with a plurality of nested channels between said plates having adjacent entrance openings arranged to terminate in a sequence corresponding to said nested channels, means communicating said channels with the surface of the front plate, a vacuum conduit, means including a movable member having a cavity communicating in all positions with said conduit and selectively positionable over one or more of said openings to successively communicate the inner channel opening and additional openings progressively outwardly therefrom as the position of the member is moved.

2. A vacuum holder as in claim 1 wherein the member is pivoted to rotate about a center and the terminus of the entrance openings are arouately arranged.

3. A vacuum holder as in claim 1 wherein the nested channels are formed by cavities in the back surface of the front plate.

IRVING S. LOVEGROVE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,717,012 Dixon June 11, 1929 1,910,753 Colvin May 23, 1933 1,945,481 Dilkes Jan. 30, 1934 1,945,493 Martindell Jan. 30, 1934 2,133,518 Huebner Oct. 18, 1938 2,317,348 Wekeman Apr. 27, 1943 2,425,921 Crockett Aug. 19, 1947 

